The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-07-28
Do We Need An Orator i?


should the next legislature be Democratic.
One Of the principal reasons assigned Tor |
this preference is the Governors superior |
oratorical abilities. The Gazette takes mp !
the cudgels in behalf Of Barbour, and |
undertakes to prove that oratory does not |
command the highest premium i'll the Sen- |
ate, and that the most useful and iniiu-
entail members of that august body are
not particularly noted for eloquence.
The Inder Appeal is generally level
headed, and we were somewhat surprised
not only at its preference, but more par
ticularly on account Of the reasons as
signed for that preference.
Not great while ago, in conversation
with one of the Oldest members OF Con-
gress-a man recognized as among the
most influential and effective representa-
tiyes in the House, and The fruits OF
whose labors are manifest, not only III
benefits to his district and section, but III
their impress upon the general legislation
of the country-the question OF oratory IN
Congress came up. Il am frequently
aslled.'' said the veteran, "Who is the
most effective speaker on tie lloor MY
reply has invariably been. I know the man
but cannot call his name Surprise is eX-
pressed at the answer, as my long resi-
deuce in Washington has made me famil-
lar with every page and employee about
the capitol, and Of course am on lntl-
mate terms with my colleagues. y We'll.
how do you explain your answer we
asked. 1.-THE explanation is simple" said
the Judge. The most effective and in
iluential speaker Of the House ID the man
srlio nerer says anything, The "orators"
are eternally bobbing up in their seats,
grasping at every opportunity to expend
their eloquence get their names in the
Record, and captivate the galleries. The
working memberS-those who control leg
islation-pay no attention to them, and
even if, by accident. they should give eX-
preston to some worthy suggestion, the
chances are the effect of it would be lost,
for the busy member hasn't time to be
perpetually Sitting chatf to get single
/ Ii. u "a
more eloquent" members, the opening
sentence of either of whom is always the
signal for vacating seats. letter writing
newspaper reading, or conversation among
his fellows. They know he is f'wounf
llp. y and that the best way to get rid OF
him is to let him spout. 1t is a harmless
= sort of diversion, that has to be tolerated
On the other hand, the real makers of thu
laws the leaders Of thou ght, are those
seldom heard on the floor. When they dc
; speak, the attention OF the House is a
once commanded What they have to say
is said briefly, pointedly, and with evident
: effect, and when the point they desire tt
impress has been made, there is no more
/ talk. 1t is useless to call names. Every
: observer will confirm the truth OF what
y have said"
The bane of the South for generations
past has been it's so-called oratory. This
> is true not only in National. but III Stat'
; affairs. Instead of our people sending
plain. COMMON sense business men to Thu
legislature, they have been educated Il
believe that the foundation Of all law il
eloouence-that it would be reelection
upOn the constituent body were it to Selec
I a delegate who could not hold his own in {
. polemic contest. The result is that oul
legislature has been made up, for the mos
part. Of fourth rate lawyers whose only
claim to representative capacity is thu
| 10 at
thereby secure cheap reputation as al
7 orator. When they reach the goal Of thei
> ambition, their only stock in trade Is TIN
: ''eloquence'' employed in the preceding
e canvass, and this they proceed to rehash il
{ every possible way upon every possible oc
$ casion. They know nothing of practica
t business affairs, of the wants of the people
. and the necessities Of the State, but the,
have the reasonable assurance Of a re- cleo
}, tion if they can secure notice in thu
a papers, and be referred to as the "hrillian
: Demosthenes of the Talktown District.
|. AS consequence the session is consumed
d in useless mouthings, and the interests O
S those who pay for such performances, ar
|
g for. If we could supplant every ''orator'
l. in the Virginia legislature with main o
practical ideas, high character, and al
d earnest purpose to do and not to tall, i
S would be the happiest day the Old Com
monwealth has known for many Ion,
I and dreary year. We have had ''elo
/. ouence'' enough to last for generations
e What is now needed is to recover from th
e effects of the verbose deluge.
e If we turn to the National Capitol, tn
Is story is repeated on a broader scale. i
Il ante bellum days the South furnished tn
= steloquence: and the North went in 70
r: business. Our statesmen" made tn
). halls of Congress ring with their brillian
'e expositions of governmental theories
l. Stores of classic lore were exhausted
s structures of grand proportions wer
q builded in the skies; audiences wer
q swayed like foliage in the hurricane. ant
the ''resistless power of the tongue O
e man" drew forth the echoing applause O
|, millions. That was the Southern part O.
J. the programme. The sharp, shreWt
h Yankee was well content that it so should
n be. Nay, more, he encouraged it. Willis
: South ern representatives were eloquently
n resisting all encroachment of the Nationa
: power, the Northerner quietly, persistently
/ and effectually pressed for government ait
Y to internal development. When the distri
5 button was made, the Southerner declined
$ to ask for his due proportion of benefit
the granting of which he had so earnestly
5 opposed, and SO double share fell to the
lot of the worker on the other side of the
: Potomac. Not only this, but the makers
of law, the silent members, slowly anG
surely moulded legislation in the interests
of the North; turning it into practica
channels; into broad avenues of solid, sub
stantial benefit, whilst their eloquent col
p leagues marked out a pathway through the
clouds. Four-iifths of the old Congress
siondJ Globe was devoted to reports OF the
speeches of Southern theorists, but the
other fifth recorded the acts of Northern
/ representatives. When words could avail
S no more; when fine spun theories came
e down to the practical test; when the